Identifying the difference between leaf septoria and calcium deficiency can be a tough task. It becomes even more difficult for beginners to find out such things. Most beginners don’t even know what leaf septoria and calcium deficiency are.
So, do you want to know leaf septoria vs calcium deficiency?
Well, first you have to know what leaf septoria and calcium deficiency are. Then you have to proceed with their infection causes, symptoms, and others. There are also differences in their after-effects. So, obviously, the treatment is different for the problems.
The briefing above is just a glimpse of the total thing we’ve discussed in this article. So, if you can spare some time, have a read to know everything in detail.
What is Leaf Septoria and Calcium Deficiency
Here we’ll briefly describe leaf septoria and calcium deficiency. So, let’s move on.
Leaf Septoria
Leaf septoria is one kind of leaf disease that creates dark spots on the leaves. Botrytis cinerea causes the most common type of septoria which initially creates small spots.
Leaf septoria is very common in cannabis plants like the issue of white hairs not turning red. The spots are smaller than 1cm in diameter and look like round-shaped gray-brown spots. The spots contain a purple halo around them. However, these spots can grow afterward into large sizes.
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium deficiency refers to the lack of proper amount of calcium in the plants. This can often look similar to leaf septoria as both of them create spots.
Calcium is a very important nutrient for plants and their growth. So, lacking the proper amount of calcium is a concerning issue. That’s why identifying and curing the problem is necessary.
Leaf Septoria vs Calcium Deficiency: Quick Comparison
A quick look before the detailed comparison can be pleasing to the eyes. It helps to keep the gist of information in mind before diving deeper into the discussion.
That’s why we have kept this section for you. A quick comparison of leaf septoria vs calcium deficiency is stated below.
| Comparison Factor | Leaf Septoria | Calcium Deficiency |
| Spot Appearance | Brown spots with a purplish hue | Yellowish spots that turn into small holes |
| Reason | Fungal infection | Lack of calcium |
| Symptoms | From old parts to young parts | Affects young parts initially |
| After Effects | Doesn’t affect the yield amount | Affects yield amount |
| Treatment | Apply Fungicide | Apply Calcium supplements |
This quick look will help you to proceed meaningfully in the detailed discussion section.
Leaf Septoria vs. Calcium Deficiency: Detailed Comparison
To know about the topic deeply, a detailed comparison can help greatly. And we’ve got you covered with that. Read along to know the differences in detail.
Spot Appearance
There are differences among the spots that appear due to leaf septoria and calcium deficiency.
Tiny yellow dots on leaves are noticed at the start of leaf septoria. These dots will transition into brown spots having a purplish hue.
Source: Missouri Botanical Garden
Calcium deficiency also appears as yellow, crinkled-up spots on the leaf surface. The whole leaf takes a bushy appearance throughout the border of the leaf. Eventually, small holes will be created on the leaves in the place of these spots.
Source: PowerAG
Thus from the appearance of the spots difference between the two can be identified.
Cause of Infection
The Reasons for the arrival of leaf septoria and calcium deficiency are different. Let’s get to know about that.
Leaf septoria causes can occur mainly due to fungal infection. Apart from that, powdery mildew and tobacco molds are responsible for leaf septoria.
On the other hand, lack of calcium is solely responsible for calcium deficiency in plants. It can also occur when alkalic soil turns into acidic soil. This creates a huge nutrient deficiency in the plants.
As a result, plants will not be able to absorb calcium efficiently. Thus making pH a huge factor in nutrient deficiency issues.
Symptoms
Septoria leaf spot symptoms appear from the base of the plants. It affects the stems and leaves. Small spots appear in the bodies which grow gradually.
It spreads from the old parts to the new parts of the plant body. The spreading is normally a bit slow but eventually, it covers the whole body.
The opposite thing is noticed in the case of calcium deficiency. Signs of calcium deficiency include young leaves and tissues being affected. Other symptoms are chlorosis in the leaf edges as well as parachute-shaped leaves. Sometimes dark veins are also noticed.
So, these are the differences in terms of symptoms between leaf septoria and calcium deficiency. Look for them if you’re suspecting your plant to be infected by any of them.
Treatment
Leaf septoria treatment will not align with how to fix calcium deficiency in plants. There will be differences between them.
If you are looking for how to treat leaf septoria, there are many ways. Removing the diseased leaves is the elementary treatment for this problem. Better ventilation among the plants is another solution to this problem.
But as this problem is caused by fungi, fungicide is the way to go. There are various types of fungicides that you can use. And here are some trusted fungicides that you can use.
Or else, you can try out mulching around the base of the plants. Thus, you can cure leaf septoria.
Calcium deficiency treatment is different from the above-mentioned ones. To treat this problem, adding calcium supplements can be a solution.
| Image | Calcium Supplement | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | General Organics CaMg+ Hydroponic Plant Supplement | Get it Now! |
  | General Hydroponics CALiMAGic | Get it Now! |
  | Bloom City Cal-Mag Growing Fertilizer | Get it Now! |
You can use any of these supplements to solve this deficiency issue.
As we mentioned earlier, plants require alkaline soil to absorb calcium. So try to keep the soil’s pH in check regularly. To do that you might need a soil tester to check the pH. And here are some suggestions on that part.
Hence, fixing the pH of the soil is another solution. If the pH is not suitable, plants can’t intake calcium properly.
So, these were the differences between leaf septoria and calcium deficiency. Now, let’s take a look at the after-effects of these two problems.
After Effects
There are not so many after-effects of leaf septoria. Leaf septoria during flowering does not affect too much. Leaf septoria also doesn’t affect the yield amount unless too many leaves are infected.
On the other hand, calcium deficiency can have a greater effect on plants. Calcium deficiency grows over time and leads to dead spots. They also affect the yield amount.
From this point, we can see that calcium deficiency can be deadlier than leaf septoria. It can result in making the fruit tips brownish. That means it can hinder reaching the projected production amount.
FAQs
Can Leaf Septoria Be Killed?
Yes, leaf septoria can be killed. Some copper-based fungicidal sprays can help to kill leaf septoria. The copper diammonia diacetate complex works best in this regard. They can help greatly.
Is there any faster way to add calcium to the soil?
Yes, there are quicker ways to add calcium to the soil. During autumn, adding lime to the soil can help increase the calcium amount in the soil. Eggshells in the compost also add calcium to the soil.
Can you eat tomatoes affected by leaf septoria?
Yes, it’s safe to eat leaf septoria-affected tomatoes unless it affects the fruit body. If the fruit body is heavily affected, it’s better to avoid eating them.
Conclusion
The whole discussion about leaf septoria vs. calcium deficiency comes to an end here. Hope you liked it and gathered your desired information.
Diseases can occur now and then. Try to identify them quickly and organically treat them. Thus you can have healthy fruits and vegetables.
That’s all. Have a good day.
